Receptacle assembly and module assembly

ABSTRACT

In a receptacle assembly, a module is guided by a guide rail and held inside an opening of a printed wiring board when a plug connector of the module is connected to a host connector. The receptacle assembly includes a guide member provided on the periphery of the opening of the wiring board and configured to form a module accommodation portion to detachably accommodate the module comprising a module board and to guide the module, a connector unit provided on the wiring board and configured to electrically connect the module board of the module to the wiring board, a first EMI gasket sealing a gap between a lower end portion of a connector cover covering the connector unit and the wiring board, and a second EMI gasket sealing a gap between a connecting end portion of the module and the periphery of an opening of the connector unit.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.14/816,391 filed on Aug. 3, 2015, which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2014-158998 filed Aug. 4, 2014. The disclosuresof the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a receptacle assembly including a heatsink body, and to a module assembly.

Description of the Related Art

Transceiver module assemblies have been put into practical use inoptical communication systems in order to transmit an optical signaltransported through an optical connector and the like to a mother board.Such a transceiver module assembly comprises, for example, a module anda receptacle assembly to which the module is detachably mounted. Asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,852,633, for instance, a receptacleassembly such as a connector for connection to a module board is placedon a printed wiring board in a housing. As its main components, thereceptacle assembly comprises: a guide rail member having anaccommodating portion which detachably accommodates the module; a heatsink unit which dissipates heat from the module; an eject mechanismwhich holds the module provided in the accommodating portion andselectively ejects the module toward the outside; and a host connectorwhich electrically connect contact pads of a module board of the loadedmodule and a conductive pattern of the printed wiring board, and a boardconnector.

The heat sink unit comprises: a heat sink body having a plurality ofheat-dissipation fins on one of its surfaces; a thermally conductivesheet and a slide sheet which are stacked in this order on a raisedportion of the heat sink body and fixed thereto; and a fixing framemember which fixes the thermally conductive sheet and the slide sheet tothe heat sink body. On the one surface of the heat sink body, theheat-dissipation fins each having an approximately rectangular crosssection are formed in parallel to one another at predeterminedintervals.

In the above-described configuration, the heat sink unit is lifted upmerely by inserting the module into the module accommodating portion,and a casing of the module comes into contact with the slide sheet.Hereby, the heat generated from the module is dissipated via thethermally conductive sheet, the slide sheet, and the heat sink unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When the above-described transceiver module assembly is placed on amounting surface of the printed wiring board in the housing, it isdesirable to reduce a height from the mounting surface of the printedwiring board to an upper end surface of the heat sink body of thereceptacle assembly to meet a demand for reduction in thickness of thehousing.

However, in the above-described structure in which the heat sink bodyhas the heat-dissipation fins on one of its surfaces, there arelimitations in reducing the thickness of the heat sink body and offeringa low-profile of the receptacle assembly.

In view of the above-described problem, the present invention aims toprovide a receptacle assembly including a heat sink body, and to providea module assembly. The receptacle assembly and module assembly canachieve a low-profile of the receptacle assembly.

To achieve the above-described object, a receptacle assembly accordingto the present invention comprises: a guide member provided on theperiphery of an opening of a wiring board which has the opening, andconfigured to form a module accommodation portion to detachablyaccommodate a module comprising a module board, and configured to guidethe module; a connector unit provided on the wiring board at a positionadjacent to the module accommodation portion, and configured toelectrically connect the module board of the module to the wiring board;a first EMI gasket sealing a gap between a lower end portion of aconnector cover covering the connector unit and the wiring board; and asecond EMI gasket sealing a gap between a connecting end portion of themodule and the periphery of an opening of the connector unit when themodule is placed to the module accommodation portion through the openingof the connector unit. When the module is accommodated by the moduleaccommodation portion, a position of a lower end portion of the moduleis positioned at a position lower than a position of the wiring boardthrough an opening of the wiring board.

In addition, the receptacle assembly may further comprise a bracket toform a guide slot of the accommodation portion to allow passage of themodule. The bracket may be configured to block entry of the module whenthe module in an incorrect position is about to be placed to the moduleaccommodation portion.

Moreover, a shape of the guide slot of the bracket may correspond to across-sectional shape of the module so as to allow passage of themodule. The guide slot may include a first recessed portion, a secondrecessed portion, and a third recessed portion communicating with thefirst recessed portion via the second recessed portion. A widthdimension of the first recessed portion in an orthogonal direction to adirection of placement of the module may be different from a widthdimension of the third recessed portion. In addition, the shape of theguide slot of the bracket may correspond to the cross-sectional shape ofthe module so as to allow passage of the module. The guide slot mayinclude the first recessed portion, the second recessed portion, and thethird recessed portion communicating with the first recessed portion viathe second recessed portion. Here, an engagement piece, which is to beengaged with a groove formed at a predetermined position on an outerperipheral portion of the module, may be formed on the periphery of thethird recessed portion.

Furthermore, the shape of the guide slot of the bracket may correspondto a cross-sectional shape of the module so as to allow passage of themodule. The guide slot may comprise the first recessed portion, thesecond recessed portion, and the third recessed portion communicatingwith the first recessed portion via the second recessed portion. Anengagement piece, which is to be engaged with a corner portion formed ata predetermined position on an outer peripheral portion of the module,may be formed on the periphery of the third recessed portion. Thereceptacle assembly may further comprise a heat sink body having aheat-dissipation portion provided adjacent to an outer peripheralportion of the guide member, the heat sink body being provided acrossthe guide member.

A module assembly according to the present invention comprises: a moduleincluding a module board having a connecting end portion located on oneend portion of the module board; and any one of the above-describedreceptacle assemblies.

According to the receptacle assembly and the module assembly of thepresent invention, because when the module is accommodated by the moduleaccommodation portion, a position of the lower end portion of the moduleis positioned at the position lower than the position of the wiringboard through the opening of the wiring board, it is possible to achievea low-profile of the receptacle assembly.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a moduleassembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of themodule assembly according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taking along the III-III line in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of thefirst embodiment of a receptacle assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a heat sink body used in theexample shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view made available for explainingassembling procedures in the example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is another exploded perspective view made available forexplaining the assembling procedures in the example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view made available for explaining theassembling procedures in the example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a secondembodiment of a receptacle assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a module usedin a modified example of the first embodiment of a module assemblyaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of a receptacleassembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a fourthembodiment of a receptacle assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of thefourth embodiment of the receptacle assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a module used in the fourthembodiment of a module assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 15A is a front view showing an example of a bracket used in theexample shown in FIG. 12, while FIG. 15B and FIG. 15C are views eachshowing an outline of a cross section of a module used with the bracket;

FIG. 16A is a front view showing another example of a bracket used inthe example shown in FIG. 12, while FIG. 16B and FIG. 16C are views eachshowing an outline of a cross section of a module used with the bracket;

FIG. 17A is a front view showing still another example of a bracket usedin the example shown in FIG. 12, while FIG. 17B and FIG. 17C are viewseach showing an outline of a cross section of a module used with thebracket;

FIG. 18A is a front view showing yet another example of a bracket usedin the example shown in FIG. 12, while FIG. 18B and FIG. 18C are viewseach showing an outline of a cross section of a module used with thebracket;

FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are perspective views each showing a configurationof a fifth embodiment of a receptacle assembly according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing another example of a connectorcover used in the third embodiment of the receptacle assembly shown inFIG. 11 together with a printed wiring board;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing another example of a connectorcover used in the third embodiment of the receptacle assembly shown inFIG. 11 together with a printed wiring board;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector cover usedin the examples shown in FIGS. 20 and 21;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the inside of an upper cover shownin FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing another example of a hostconnector used in the third embodiment of the receptacle assembly shownin FIG. 11 together with the printed wiring board; and

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing another example of a hostconnector used in the third embodiment of the receptacle assembly shownin FIG. 11 together with the printed wiring board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a receptacle assembly according tothe present invention together with a module.

A plurality of receptacle assemblies shown in FIG. 2 are arranged inparallel on a support panel 10 in a certain electronic device. Note thatFIG. 2 shows one receptacle assembly supported by the support panel 10on behalf of the plurality of receptacle assemblies. An example of amodule assembly according to the present invention comprises a module 14to be described later, and the receptacle assembly.

As shown in FIG. 1, the module 14 comprises, as its main components, anupper case and a lower case made of metal and forming a contour portion,and a module board 14S to be positioned at a predetermined position inan accommodation space defined between the upper case and the lowercase.

The upper case as an upper member has an opened lower end. A protectionwall shaped like thin sheet being continuous with an upper surface andthe two side surfaces of the upper case and projecting in a longitudinaldirection is formed at one end portion of the upper case. The protectionwall is provided for protecting a plug connector 14P to be describedlater in case the module 14 is dropped by mistake.

As shown in FIG. 1, the module board 14S has an electrode unit which isprovided on one end portion thereof and constitutes the plug connector14P serving as a connecting end portion. A plurality of contact pads arearranged in parallel to one another at predetermined intervals on commonplanes on front side and back surfaces of the electrode unit which isformed at a tip end portion of the plug connector 14P.

The lower case as a lower member is fixed to a lower end of the uppercase in such a way as to cover an opening at the lower end of the uppercase described above.

Although the above-described module board 14S has the plug connector 14Pas the connecting end portion, the present invention is not limited onlyto this configuration. For example, the module board may have a cardedge terminal, instead of the plug connector, as the connecting endportion at its tip end portion.

An optical connector connected to an end of an optical cable (not shown)is connected to each of ports 14PA and 14PB provided at an end portionof the module 14 shown in FIG. 2. The other end of each optical cable isconnected to an optical connector of another housing constituting anot-illustrated communication system. It should be noted that the portsof the module 14 are not limited only to this example, and for instance,the ports may be designed to connect coaxial connectors which areconnected to coaxial cables.

Fixing screws 26 for fixing the module 14 to a connector cover 20 to bedescribed later longitudinally penetrate through-holes, respectively,which are formed at the two side portions of the upper case. A knob ofeach fixing screw 26 is exposed on the end surface of the module 14where the ports 14PA and 14PB are opened. A male screw part which isscrewed into a female screw part of the connector cover 20 is formed ata tip end of each fixing screw 26.

The receptacle assembly is supported by the support panel 10. Arectangular opening 10 a allowing passage of the module 14 in directionsindicated with arrows shown in FIG. 2, i.e., in directions of attachmentand detachment, is formed at a central part of an end portion thesupport panel 10, which is one of its short sides that is folded. Holesto allow insertion of machine screws BS4, which are configured to fix abracket 24 to be described later to the support panel 10, are formed attwo positions around the opening 10 a (see FIG. 8).

As shown in FIG. 4, the receptacle assembly comprises, as its maincomponents: the bracket 24 which guides the module 14 when the module 14is attached or detached; a pair of guide rail members 22R and 22Lconstituting an accommodation portion which detachably receives themodule 14 through the bracket 24; a heat sink unit which dissipates heatgenerated from the module 14; a host connector 18 which electricallyconnects the contact pads of the plug connector 14P of the attachedmodule 14 and a conductive pattern of a printed wiring board 12; and theconnector cover 20 which covers the host connector 18.

The bracket 24 has a guide slot provided at a central part in such a wayas to penetrate the bracket along its short sides. The guide slot iscomprised of: a first hole portion 24 a which allows insertion of theend portion of the module 14 where the knobs of the fixing screws 26described above are exposed; and a second hole portion 24 b whichcommunicates with the first hole portion 24 a and has guide walls.Female screw holes 24 fs into which the machine screws BS4 are screwedare formed at two positions around an open end of the first hole portion24 a. The two side portions of the module 14 passing through the secondhole portion 24 b come into slidable contact with the guide walls at aninner peripheral portion of the second hole portion 24 b.

The printed wiring board 12 has an opening 12A provided at a centralpart thereof. The opening 12A is formed and surrounded by guide railplacement portions 12 a and 12 c opposed to each other, and a connectorsupport portion 12 b connecting end portions of the guide rail placementportions 12 a and 12 c.

Each of the guide rail placement portions 12 a and 12 c extends in thedirections of attachment and detachment of the module 14.

Because the guide rail placement portion 12 a to support the guide railmember 22R and the guide rail support portion 12 c to support the guiderail member 22L have the same structure, the guide rail placementportion 12 a will be described below while omitting the description ofthe guide rail support portion 12 c. The guide rail placement portion 12a has a plurality of holes 12H2 provided at predetermined positions,into which machine screws BS2 (see FIG. 6) to be described later forfixing the guide rail member 22R to the printed wiring board 12 areinserted. Hereby, the guide rail members 22R and 22L serving as guidemembers are fixed to the guide rail placement portions 12 a and 12 c,respectively, by screwing the machine screws BS2 into female screw holesto be described later via the holes 12H2.

The host connector 18 is provided on the connector support portion 12 bwhich supports the connector cover 20 and the host connector 18. Theconnector support portion 12 b has a pair of holes 12H1 provided ateither end thereof and adjacent to the host connector 18, into whichmachine screws BS3 (see FIG. 6) for fixing the connector cover 20 to theprinted wiring board 12 are inserted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the host connector 18 comprises a connectorinsulator having a slot 18A into which the plug connector 14P of themodule 14 is detachably inserted, and a plurality of contact terminals18 ai and 18 bi (i=1 to n, n is a positive integer). The contactterminals 18 ai and 18 bi are provided to electrically connect the plugconnector 14P of the module 14 to a group of electrodes connected to theconductive pattern of the printed wiring board 12.

For example, a plurality of slits at predetermined intervals in alongitudinal direction in FIG. 3 are formed on the periphery of the slot18A of the connector insulator molded of a resin material. The adjacentslits are separated from one another by partition walls. In each slit, amovable contact portion (not shown) of the contact terminal 18 ai and amovable contact portion (not shown) of the contact terminal 18 bi aredisposed opposite to each other. Fixing terminals of the contactterminals 18 ai and 18 bi of the host connector 18 are soldered to theconductive pattern of the printed wiring board 12. The host connector 18is covered with the connector cover 20.

The connector cover 20 is made of a metal material, for example. Asshown in FIG. 3, the connector cover 20 comprises a connectoraccommodation portion 20A, and guide rail support portions 20B formedintegrally on both sides of the connector accommodation portion 20A anddesigned to support ends of the guide rail members 22R and 22L to bedescribed later.

The connector accommodation portion 20A is provided with a slot to allowpassage of the plug connector 14P of the module 14 when the module 14 isattached or detached, and configured to accommodate the host connector18 inside and to cover the host connector 18 while retaining givenclearances. The slot of the connector accommodation portion 20A isformed in face-to-face relationship with the slot 18A of the hostconnector 18 described above. As shown in FIG. 3, female screw parts20FS into which the above-described male screw parts of the fixingscrews 26 are screwed are formed at two positions near both ends on theperiphery of the slot. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a groove intowhich an annular EMI gasket EG1 serving as a first EMI gasket isinserted is formed around the periphery of the slot. Moreover, a grooveinto which an annular EMI gasket EG2 serving as a second EMI gasket isinserted is formed in a lower end surface of the connector cover 20. TheEMI gasket EG2 comes into contact with an end of the connector supportportion 12 b of the printed wiring board 12 defining the opening 12A. Inthis case, as shown in FIG. 1, an end portion of the connector cover 20is engaged with an edge of the opening 12A opposed to the connectorsupport portion 12 b and projects into the opening 12A.

Hereby, as shown in FIG. 1, when the plug connector 14P of the module 14is connected to the host connector 18, an end surface of the module 14from which the plug connector 14P projects comes into contact with theEMI gasket EG1 on the periphery of a slot 20A of the connector cover 20,and the EMI gasket EG2 comes into contact with the end of the connectorsupport portion 12 b of the printed wiring board 12 forming the opening12A. Accordingly, noise generated in the host connector 18 is confinedto the inside of the connector accommodation portion 20A.

An engagement portion (not shown), with which one end of thecorresponding one of the guide rail members 22R and 22L comes intoengagement, is formed to each guide rail support portion 20B at aposition adjacent to the female screw part 20FS. In addition, femalescrew holes (not shown) through which the above-described machine screwsBS3 are screwed via the holes 12H1 in the printed wiring board 12 areformed inside the guide rail support portions 20B in a substantiallyperpendicular direction to a mounting surface of the printed wiringboard 12.

The guide rail member 22R is molded from a resin material, for example.As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail member 22R comprises: a guide wallportion 22RW which guides and holds one of the side portions of themodule 14; and a flange portion 22RS formed integrally with the guidewall portion 22RW and fixed to the guide rail placement portion 12 a ofthe printed wiring board 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 22RS extends sideways in adirection substantially perpendicular to one of outer peripheralsurfaces of the guide wall portion 22RW and substantially parallel tothe guide rail placement portion 12 a. As shown in FIG. 4, the flangeportion 22RS is provided with a plurality of female screw holes 22FS ata predetermined interval corresponding to the holes 12H2 in the printedwiring board 12. As shown in FIG. 3, groups of fins 16RW1 and 16RW2 of aheat sink body 16 to be described later are placed in a spacepartitioned by the one outer peripheral surface of the guide wallportion 22RW and the flange portion 22RS.

A proximal end of the flange portion 22RS is connected to the guide wallportion 22RW at a position some distance from a lower end position ofthe guide wall position 22RW toward an upper end of the guide wallportion 22RW, e.g. a position away by a predetermine height greater thana plate thickness of the printed wiring board 12. Herewith, the lowerend of the guide wall portion 22RW penetrates the opening 12A toward thesupport panel 10 and projects downward from the printed wiring board 12.In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the guide wallportion 22RW is located on a common plane with the end portion of theconnector cover 20 projecting to the opening 12A. Accordingly, abacksurface of the printed wiring board 12 and the periphery of the slot ofthe connector cover 20 corresponding thereto are located substantiallyon a common plane.

The guide wall portion 22RW has protrusions which are formed on two endsin the longitudinal direction and are to be engaged with the engagementportion of the above-described guide rail support portion 20B and anengagement portion of the bracket 24, respectively.

A guide groove 22RG which guides and holds one of the side portions ofthe module 14 is formed in the longitudinal direction on the other outerperipheral surface of the guide wall portion 22RW.

Female screw holes are formed at two positions of an upper part of theguide wall portion 22RW. Machine screws BS1 for fixing the heat sinkbody 16 to be described later to the guide rail member 22R are screwedinto the female screw holes. Protrusions 22P for positioning the heatsink body 16 with respect to the guide rail member 22R are formed atpositions adjacent to the female screw holes. Tip end portions of theprotrusions 22P are engaged with relatively shallow positioning grooves16G1 and 16G2 (see FIG. 5) of the heat sink body 16, respectively.

In the meantime, the guide rail member 22L is molded from a resinmaterial, for example. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail member 22Lcomprises: a guide wall portion 22LW which guides and holds the one ofthe side portions of the module 14; and a flange portion 22LS formedintegrally with the guide wall portion 22LW and fixed to the guide railplacement portion 12 c of the printed wiring board 12. Because theconfigurations of the guide wall portion 22LW and the flange portion22LS are the same as those of the guide wall portion 22RW and the flangeportion 22LS described above, respectively, the explanation thereof willbe omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the heat sink unit comprises the heat sink body 16,and the four machine screws BS1 for fixing the heat sink body 16 toupper ends of the guide rail member 22W and the guide rail member 22Ldescribed above.

The heat sink body 16 is molded from metal having fine heat conductivitysuch as an aluminum alloy as shaped in a thin sheet. The groups of fins16RW1 and 16RW2 and groups of fins 16LW1 and 16LW2 are formed oppositeto one another, respectively, on both ends of a surface of the heat sinkbody 16 which is opposed to the upper ends of the guide rail member 22Wand the guide rail member 22L. Because structures of the groups of fins16RW1 and 16RW2 are the same as structures of the groups of fins 16LW1and 16LW2, the groups of fins 16RW1 and 16RW2 will be described belowand explanation of the groups of fins 16LW1 and 16LW2 will be omitted.

The group of fins 16RW1 are comprised of a plurality of fins 16 fi (i=1to n, n is a positive integer) each having a rectangular cross section.The fins 16 fi are formed at predetermined intervals in three linesparallel to one another and in the longitudinal direction of the heatsink body 16. The relatively shallow positioning grooves 16G1 and 16G2are formed near the two end portions of the group of fins 16RW1,respectively. The group of fins 16RW2 are formed adjacent to thepositioning groove 16G2. A length of arrangement of the group of fins16RW2 in the longitudinal direction of the heat sink body 16 is setshorter than a length of arrangement of the group of fins 16RW1. Thegroup of fins 16RW2 are comprised of a plurality of fins 16 fi (i=1 ton, n is a positive integer) each having a rectangular cross section. Thefins 16 fi are formed at predetermined intervals in three lines parallelto one another and in the longitudinal direction of the heat sink body16.

The machine screws BS1 are provided between the group of fins 16RW1 andthe group of fins 16LW1 and beside the group of fins 16RW1 and the groupof fins 16LW1, respectively, at a predetermined interval correspondingto the female screw holes in the guide rail member 22W and the guiderail member 22L described above. When the heat sink unit is attached tothe guide rail member 22W and the guide rail member 22L, the position ofthe slot of the connector cover 20 is set to a position closer to themounting surface of the printed wiring board 12 as shown in FIG. 3.Moreover, because no fins are provided on a flat upper surface of theheat sink body 16, a height H from the mounting surface of the printedwiring board 12 to the flat upper surface of the heat sink body 16 isset to a relatively low-profile.

In the case of assembling the receptacle assembly, after the hostconnector 18 is first fixed to the connector support portion 12 b of theprinted wiring board 12 as shown in FIG. 6, the host connector 18 issecondly covered with the connector cover 20 and then the connectorcover 20 is fixed to the connector support portion 12 b with the machinescrews BS3. Subsequently, the ends of the guide rail members 22R and 22Lare inset into the engagement portions of the connector cover 20,respectively, and then the guide rail members 22R and 22L are fixed tothe guide rail placement portions 12 a and 12 c with the machine screwsBS2. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, after the guide rail members 22R and 22Lare disposed to face other between the group of fins 16RW1 and the groupof fins 16LW1 of the heat sink body 16, and then the heat sink body 16is fixed to the upper ends of the guide rail members 22R and 22L withthe machine screws BS1. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the other ends of theguide rail members 22R and 22L are opposed to the bracket 24, and thebracket 24 is brought closer in a direction indicated with an arrow.Thus, the other ends of the guide rail members 22R and 22L are insetinto the engagement portions of the bracket 24, respectively. Then, theopening 10 a of the support panel 10 and the open end of the bracket 24are brought to face each other. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, thesupport panel 10 is fixed to the bracket 24 with the machine screws BS4.Thus, the receptacle assembly is fixed to the support panel 10 in such away as to form a predetermined clearance between the back surface of theprinted wiring board 12 and the support panel 10.

In the above-described configuration, when the plug connector 14P of themodule 14 is connected to the host connector 18, the module 14 is guidedby the guide rail members 22R and 22L and held inside the opening 12A ofthe printed wiring board 12 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of a receptacle assembly according tothe present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle assembly has the heatsink unit. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 9, thereceptacle assembly does not have a heat sink unit. It will be notedthat the constituents in FIG. 9 which are the same as those in FIG. 2are denoted by the same reference numerals and the overlappingdescription thereof will be omitted. It is to be also noted that themodule 14 shown in FIG. 1 are made attachable to and detachable from thereceptacle assembly shown in FIG. 9. The receptacle assembly issupported by the support panel 10 (see FIG. 2), though the illustrationthereof is omitted in FIG. 9.

Although illustration of the receptacle assembly is omitted in FIG. 9,the receptacle assembly comprises the bracket 24 (see FIG. 4) whichguides the module 14 when the module 14 is attached or detached; thepair of guide rail members 22R and 22L constituting the accommodationportion which detachably accommodates the module 14 through the bracket24; the host connector 18 which electrically connects the contact padsof the plug connector 14P of the attached module 14 and a conductivepattern of a printed wiring board 12′; and the connector cover 20 whichcovers the host connector 18 as a principal element.

The printed wiring board 12′ has an opening 12′A provided at a centralpart thereof. The opening 12′A is formed be surrounded by guide railplacement portions 12′a and 12′c opposed to each other, and a connectorsupport portion 12′b connecting end portions of the guide rail placementportions 12′a and 12′c.

Each of the guide rail placement portions 12′a and 12′c extends in thedirections of attachment and detachment of the module 14.

Because the guide rail placement portion 12′a to support the guide railmember 22′R and the guide rail support portion 12′c to support the guiderail member 22′L have the same structure, the guide rail placementportion 12′a will be described below while omitting the description ofthe guide rail support portion 12′c. The guide rail placement portion12′a has a plurality of holes provided at predetermined positions, intowhich the machine screws BS2 for fixing the guide rail member 22′R tothe printed wiring board 12′ are inserted. Herewith, the guide railmembers 22′R and 22′L serving as the guide members are fixed to theguide rail placement portions 12′a and 12′c, respectively, by screwingthe machine screws BS2 through female screw holes 22′FS via theaforementioned holes.

The host connector 18 is placed at the connector support portion 12′bwhich supports the connector cover 20 and the host connector 18. Theconnector support portion 12′b has a pair of holes provided at the twoends thereof and adjacent to the host connector 18, into which machinescrews for fixing the connector cover 20 to the printed wiring board 12′are inserted.

The guide rail member 22′R as the guide member is molded of a resinmaterial, for example. The guide rail member 22′R comprises: a guidewall portion 22′RW which guides and holds one of the side portions ofthe module 14; and flange portions 22′RF formed integrally with theguide wall portion 22′RW and fixed to the guide rail placement portion12′a of the printed wiring board 12′.

Each flange portion 22′RF extends sideways in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to one of outer peripheral surfaces of the guide wallportion 22′RW and substantially parallel to the guide rail placementportion 12′a. The flange portions 22′RF are provided with a plurality offemale screw holes 22′FS at a predetermined interval corresponding tothe holes in the printed wiring board 12′.

A proximal end of the flange portion 22′RF is connected to the guidewall portion 22′RW at a position some distance from a lower end positionof the guide wall position 22′RW toward an upper end of the guide wallportion 22′RW, e.g. a position away by a predetermine height greaterthan a plate thickness of the printed wiring board 12′. Hereby, thelower end of the guide wall portion 22′RW penetrates the opening 12′Atoward the support panel 10 and projects downward from the printedwiring board 12′. At that time, the lower end of the guide wall portion22′RW is located on the common plane with the end portion of theconnector cover 20 projecting to the opening 12′A. Accordingly, a backsurface of the printed wiring board 12′ and the periphery of the slot ofthe connector cover 20 corresponding thereto are located substantiallyon the common plane.

The above-described engagement portion of the guide rail support portion20B and the protrusion to be engaged with one of engagement portions ofthe bracket 24 are provided to each of the two ends in the longitudinaldirection of the guide wall portion 22′RW.

A guide groove 22′RG which guides and holds one of the side portions ofthe module 14 is formed in the longitudinal direction on the other outerperipheral surface of the guide wall portion 22′RW.

In the meantime, the guide rail member 22′L as the other guide member ismolded of a resin material, for example. The guide rail member 22′L has:a guide wall portion 22′LW which guides and holds the other one of theside portions of the module 14; and flange portions 22′LS formedintegrally with the guide wall portion 22′LW and fixed to the guide railplacement portion 12′c of the printed wiring board 12′. Because theconfigurations of the guide wall portion 22′LW and the flange portions22′LS are the same as those of the guide wall portion 22′RW and theflange portions 22′RF described above, respectively, and the explanationthereof will be omitted.

As a consequence, because the position of the slot of the connectorcover 20 is set to a position closer to the mounting surface of theprinted wiring board 12 in this embodiment as well, it is possible toachieve a low-profile styling of the receptacle assembly.

FIG. 10 shows another example of a module used in an example of a moduleassembly according to the present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the annular EMI gasket EG1 as the firstEMI gasket is provided around the periphery of the slot of the connectorcover 20. Instead, in the example shown in FIG. 10, an annular EMIgasket EG3 is provided in such a way as to surround an outer peripheralportion of the plug connector 14P of the module 14 without providing theannular EMI gasket EG1 around the periphery of the slot of the connectorcover 20. As a consequence, because when the plug connector 14P of themodule 14 is connected to the host connector 18, the EMI gasket EG3 ofthe module 14, from which the plug connector 14P projects, comes intocontact with an end surface on the periphery of the slot 20A of theconnector cover 20 and the EMI gasket EG2 is in contact with the end ofthe connector support portion 12 b of the printed wiring board 12forming the opening 12A, noise generated in the host connector 18 isconfined to the inside of the connector accommodation portion 20A.

FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of a receptacle assembly according tothe present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an another example of a receptacle cage constituting partof the module assembly according to the present invention. It will benoted that the constituents in FIG. 11 which are the same as those ofthe example shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numeralsand the overlapping description thereof will be omitted.

The receptacle assembly comprises, as its main components: a receptaclecage 62 which is provided to a printed wiring board 52 and detachablyaccommodates the optical module 14; the host connector 18 to beaccommodated by a receptacle connector accommodation portion of thereceptacle cage 62; and the connector cover 20 provided with a connectoraccommodation portion which individually accommodates the host connector18.

The printed wiring board 52 has an opening 52A provided at a centralpart thereof. The opening 52A is formed to be surrounded by flangeportion placement portions 52 a and 52 c opposed to each other, and aconnector support portion 52 b connecting end portions of the flangeportion placement portions 52 a and 52 c.

The receptacle cage 62 is formed out of a thin sheet of stainless steelor phosphor bronze, for example, or preferably by conducting pressworkon stainless steel or phosphor bronze having good heat conductivity. Thereceptacle cage 62 is provided with a compartment 62A comprising amodule accommodation portion and a receptacle connector accommodationportion therein.

It should be understood that the receptacle cage 62 is not limited tothe above-described example but, a plurality of compartments 62A may beformed in parallel along a Y-coordinate axis extending in an orthogonaldirection to an X-coordinate axis, which is the directions of attachmentand detachment of the module 14 in terms of the orthogonal coordinatesin FIG. 11.

The module accommodation portion in the compartment 62A is formed so asto be surrounded by side walls 62RW and 62LW opposed to each other witha predetermined interval in between, and a bottom wall portion 62BPthereof. The side walls 62RW and 62LW serving as the guide members toguide the module 14 extend in the X-coordinate axis in FIG. 11, i.e.,the directions of attachment and detachment of the module 14. Each ofthe side walls 62RW and 62LW may also have a attachment piece 62LFlocated in the vicinity of a module slot and configured to establish alocked state of the module 14 with the module accommodation portion.

Each of side walls 62RW and 62LW has flange portions 62F1 and 62F2 to beengaged with the flange portion placement portions 52 a and 52 c of theprinted wiring board 52, respectively. The flange portions 62F1 and 62F2are separated from each other with a predetermined interval in betweenin the X-coordinate axis. In addition, a back plate of the receptaclecage 62 has flange portions 62F3 and 62F4 to be fixed to the connectorsupport portion 52 b of the printed wiring board 52. The flange portions62F3 and 62F4 are separated from each other with a predeterminedinterval in between in the Y-coordinate axis. The flange portions 62F3and 62F4 are fixed to the connector support portion 52 b by screwingmachine screws through female screw parts of the flange portions 62F3and 62F4 via holes in the printed wiring board 52.

Proximal ends of the flange portions 62F1, 62F2, 62F3, and 62F4 areconnected to the side walls 62RW and 62LW and the back plate atpositions some distance from a lower end position of the side walls 62RWand 62LW and the back plate toward an upper end of the side walls 62RWand 62LW and the back plate, e.g. a position away by a predetermineheight greater than a plate thickness of the printed wiring board 52.Hereby, the lower ends of the side walls 62RW and 62LW and the backplate penetrate the opening 52A and project downward from the printedwiring board 52.

At that time, the lower ends of the side walls 62RW and 62LW and theback plate are located on the common plane with the end portion of theconnector cover 20 projecting to the opening 52A. Accordingly, a backsurface of the printed wiring board 52 and the periphery of the slot ofthe connector cover 20 corresponding thereto are located substantiallyon the common plane. In other words, because the position of the slot ofthe connector cover 20 is set to a position closer to the mountingsurface of the printed wiring board 52, it is possible to achieve alow-profile styling of the receptacle assembly.

The module accommodation portion has the module slot on one end, whichis opened in the direction of the X-coordinate axis. Herewith, themodule 14 is attached and detached via the module slot. A tubular frontEMI finger 62FF is provided on the entire periphery of the module slotwhich has a substantially rectangular cross section. An inner peripheralportion of the front EMI finger 62FF comes into contact with an outerperipheral portion of the inserted module 14. In addition, an outerperipheral portion of the front EMI finger 62FF comes into contact, forexample, with the periphery of an opening of a front panel of a housingwhere the receptacle cage 62 is provided.

Hereby, because when the receptacle cage 62 is press-fitted into theopening of the housing, a gap between the opening of the housing and theouter peripheral portion of the receptacle cage 62 is shielded by thefront EMI finger 62FF made of metal, noise is confined to the inside ofthe above-described housing, and there is no danger of leakage of thenoise to the outside through a gap between the outer peripheral portionof the module 14 and the inner peripheral portion of the moduleaccommodation portion.

In addition, the other end of the module accommodation portion opposedto the module slot communicates with the inside of the receptacleconnector accommodation portion. An opening 62 b opened in aZ-coordinate axis is formed at a portion of the receptacle cage 62opposed to the bottom wall portion thereof. On the periphery of theopening 62 b, there is provided a heat sink support member 62H whichdetachably supports a heat sink (not shown) through a heat sink holder(not shown), for example. Attachment pieces formed on one end of theheat sink holder are inserted into holes 62Ha, 62Hb, and 62Hc of theheat sink support member 62H. An attachment piece to be attached with anib portion that projects outward from the back plate of the receptaclecage 62 is formed on the other end of the heat sink holder.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show a fourth embodiment of a receptacle assemblyaccording to the present invention.

A plurality of receptacle assemblies shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 arearranged in parallel on a printed wiring board 32 in a certainelectronic device. It will be noted that FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 showrepresentatively one receptacle assembly supported by the printed wiringboard 32.

As shown in FIG. 14, a module 44 comprises, as its main components, anupper case 44U and a lower case 44L made of metal and constituting acontour portion, and a module board to be positioned at a predeterminedposition in an accommodation space defined between the upper case 44Uand the lower case 44L.

The upper case 44U as an upper member has an opened lower end. A thinsheet-shaped protection wall being continuous with an upper surface andthe two side surfaces of the upper case and projecting in a longitudinaldirection is formed at one end portion of the upper case 44U. Theprotection wall is provided for protecting a plug connector 44P to bedescribed later in case the module 44 is dropped by mistake.

The module board has an electrode unit which is provided on one endthereof and constitutes the plug connector 44P serving as a connectingend portion. A plurality of contact pads are arranged in parallel to oneanother at predetermined intervals on common planes on top and bottomsurfaces of the electrode unit which is formed at a tip end portion ofthe plug connector 44P.

The lower case 44L as a lower member is fixed to a lower end of theupper case 44U in such a way as to cover the opening at the lower end ofthe upper case 44U described above.

Although the above-described module board has the plug connector 44P asthe connecting end portion, the module board is not so limited but mayhas a card edge terminal, for instance, instead of the plug connector,as the connecting end portion at its tip end portion.

An optical connector connected to an end of an optical cable (not shown)is connected to a port (not shown) provided at an end portion of themodule 44. The other end of the optical cable is connected to an opticalconnector of another housing constituting a not-illustratedcommunication system. It will be noted that the port of the module isnot so limited but may be designed to connect a coaxial connector whichis connected to a coaxial cable, for instance.

Fixing screws 46 for fixing the module 44 to a connector cover 30 to bedescribed later longitudinally penetrate through-holes, respectively,which are formed at the two side portions of the upper case 44U. A knobof each fixing screw 46 is exposed on the end surface of the module 44where the port is opened. A male screw part to be threadedly engagedwith a female screw part of the connector cover 30 is formed at a tipend of each fixing screw 46.

Protruding wall portions 44UG and 44LG projecting sideways are formed atthe two side portions of the upper case 44U and the lower case 44L,respectively. The protruding wall portions 44UG and 44LG are adapted tocome into slidable contact with the periphery of a second recessedportion 34R2 of a bracket 34 to be described later. In addition, contactsurface portions 44LA are formed at end portions of the protruding wallportions 44LG of the lower case 44 located near the knobs of the fixingscrews 46. When the module 44 is connected to the receptacle assembly,portions A of the contact surface portions 44LA of the lower case 44Lare adapted to come into contact with portions A (see FIG. 15A) formingthe periphery at the two ends of a first recessed portion 34R1 of thebracket 34 to be described later.

As shown in FIG. 13, the receptacle assembly is secured by the printedwiring board 32. The receptacle assembly comprises, as its maincomponents: the bracket 34 which guides the module 44 when the module 44is attached or detached; a bracket support member 36 to which thebracket 34 is connected; a pair of guide rail members 42R and 42Lconstituting an accommodation portion which detachably accommodates themodule 44; a heat sink unit (not shown) which dissipates heat generatedfrom the module 44; a host connector 28 which electrically connects thecontact pads of the plug connector 44P of the attached module 44 and aconductive pattern of the printed wiring board 32; and the connectorcover 30 which covers the host connector 28.

As shown in FIG. 12, the bracket 34 has a guide slot provided at acentral part in such a way as to penetrate the bracket along its shortsides. The guide slot is comprised of: a first hole portion 34 a whichallows insertion of the end portion of the module 44 where the knobs ofthe fixing screws 46 described above are exposed; and a second holeportion 34 b which communicates with the substantially rectangular firsthole portion 34 a and has guide walls.

As shown in FIG. 15A, the second hole portion 34 b is formed of thefirst recessed portion 34R1, the second recessed portion 34R2, and athird recessed portion 34R3. The first recessed portion 34R1 is formedto correspond to a lower end portion continuous with the protruding wallportions 44LG of the lower case 44L of the module 44 described above. Awidth dimension Lb of the first recessed portion 34R1 is set slightlylarger than a width dimension of the lower end portion of the modulecorresponding thereto.

The second recessed portion 34R2 is formed to correspond to theprotruding wall portions 44UG and 44LG of the upper case 44U and thelower case 44L of the module 44. The protruding wall portions 44UG and44LG of the module 14 passing through the second recessed portion 34R2come into slidable contact with the periphery of the second recessedportion 34R2. The third recessed portion 34R3 is formed to correspond toan upper end portion which is continuous with the protruding wallportions 44UG of the upper case 44U of the module 44 described above. Awidth dimension of the third recessed portion 34R3 is set larger than awidth dimension La of the upper end portion of the module correspondingthereto. Through-holes into which machine screws BS6 for fixing thebracket 34 to the bracket support member 36 are inserted are formed atfour positions around the second hole portion 34 b.

The bracket support member 36 has a guide slot inside, which correspondsto the second hole portion 34 b of the bracket 34.

A pair of holes into which machine screws for fixing the connector cover30 to the printed wiring board 32 are inserted, and positioning pins areprovided to the printed wiring board 32 at its two ends adjacent to thehost connector 28. The host connector 28 is provided between thepositioning pins.

The host connector 28 comprises a connector insulator having a slot intowhich the plug connector 44P of the module 44 is detachably inserted,and a plurality of contact terminals (not shown). The each contactterminal is provided to electrically connect the plug connector 44P ofthe module 44 to a group of electrodes connected to the conductivepattern of the printed wiring board 32.

For example, a plurality of slits formed at predetermined intervals inthe longitudinal direction are provided on the periphery of the slot ofthe connector insulator molded out of a resin material. The adjacentslits are separated from one another by partition walls. In each slit, amovable contact portion of one of the contact terminals and a movablecontact portion of another one of the contact terminal are disposedopposite to each other. Fixing terminals of the contact terminals of thehost connector 28 are soldered to the conductive pattern of the printedwiring board 32. The host connector 28 is covered with the connectorcover 30.

The connector cover 30 is made of a metal material, for example. Asshown in FIG. 13, the connector cover 30 comprises a connectoraccommodation portion 30A, and guide rail support portions 30B formed onthe two sides of the connector accommodation portion 30A and designed tosupport ends of the guide rail members 42R and 42L to be describedlater.

The connector accommodation portion 30A is provided with a slot to allowpassage of the plug connector 44P of the module 44 when the module 44 isattached or detached, and configured to receive the host connector 28inside and to cover the host connector 28 while retaining givenclearances.

The slot of the connector accommodation portion 30A is formed to facethe slot of the host connector 28 described above. Female screw partsinto which the above-described male screw parts of the fixing screws 46are screwed are formed at two positions near two ends on the peripheryof the slot of the connector accommodation portion 30A. In addition, agroove into which the annular EMI gasket EG1 is inserted is formedaround the periphery of the slot. Moreover, a groove into which anotherannular EMI gasket (not shown) is inserted is formed in a lower endsurface of the connector cover 30. The EMI gasket at the bottom partcomes into contact with a mounting surface of the printed wiring board32.

Hereby, because when the plug connector 44P of the module 44 isconnected to the host connector 28, an end surface of the module 44 fromwhich the plug connector 44P projects comes into contact with the EMIgasket EG1 on the periphery of the slot of the connector cover 30, andthe EMI gasket at the bottom part comes into contact with the mountingsurface of the printed wiring board 32, noise generated in the hostconnector 28 is confined to the inside of the connector accommodationportion 30A.

An engagement portion (not shown), with which one end of thecorresponding one of the guide rail members 42R and 42L comes intoengagement, is provided at a position adjacent to a female screw part ofeach of the guide rail support portions 30B. In addition, female screwholes (not shown) into which machine screws are threaded via the holesin the printed wiring board 32 are formed inside the guide rail supportportions 30B in a substantially perpendicular direction to the mountingsurface of the printed wiring board 32.

The guide rail member 42R is formed from a resin material, for example.As shown in FIG. 13, the guide rail member 42R includes a guide wallportion which guides and holds one of the side portions of the module44.

The guide wall portion includes protrusions which are formed on two endsin the longitudinal direction and are to be engaged with theabove-described engagement portion of the corresponding guide railsupport portion 30B and an engagement portion of a bracket supportportion 36, respectively.

A guide groove which guides and holds one of the side portions of themodule 44 is formed in the longitudinal direction on one of outerperipheral surfaces of the guide wall portion.

Female screw holes are formed at two positions of an upper part of theguide wall portion. Machine screws BS5 for fixing a heat sink body (notshown) to the guide rail member 42R are threaded into the female screwholes. Protrusions for positioning the heat sink body with respect tothe guide rail member 42R are formed at positions adjacent to the femalescrew holes. Tip end portions of the protrusions are engaged withrelatively shallow positioning grooves of the heat sink body (notshown), respectively.

In the meantime, the guide rail member 42L is formed from a resinmaterial, for example. As shown in FIG. 13, the guide rail member 42Lincludes a guide wall portion which guides and holds the other one ofthe side portions of the module 44. The configuration of the guide wallportion is the same as the configuration of the guide wall portion ofthe guide rail member 42R described above, and the explanation thereofwill be omitted. Accordingly, the module accommodation portion isdefined on the printed wiring board 32 and between the guide rail member42R and the guide rail member 42L.

In the above-described configuration, when the plug connector 44P of themodule 44 is connected to the host connector 28, if the module 44 isinserted through the guide slot of the bracket 34 and the guide slot ofthe bracket support portion 36 in the state where the upper end portionof the upper case 44U of the module 44 is aligned with the thirdrecessed portion 34R3 of the bracket 34 as shown in FIG. 15B, the module44 is guided by the guide rails 42R and 42L and held inside theabove-described module accommodation portion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 15C, when the module 44 is insertedinto the guide slot of the bracket 34 and the guide slot of the bracketsupport portion 36 in the state where the lower case 44L of the module44 is incorrectly aligned with the third recessed portion 34R3 of thebracket 34, i.e., in the state where the module 44 is placed upsidedown, the end surface of the upper case 44U comes into contact with theportions A shown in FIG. 15A since the width dimension La of the uppercase 44U of the module 44 is larger than the width dimension Lb of thefirst recessed portion 34R1 of the bracket 34. Thus, the module 44 inthe incorrect position is prevented from being inserted into the bracket34.

The configuration to avoid insertion of the incorrectly oriented module44 into the bracket 34 is not limited only to the above-describedexample. For instance, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, it is alsopossible to adopt a configuration in which engagement pieces 54K1 and54K2 are formed on the periphery of a third recessed portion 54R3 of abracket 54, and grooves 64D1 and 64D2 corresponding to the engagementpieces 54K1 and 54K2 are formed on an upper end portion of an upper case64U of a module 64.

The bracket 54 includes a guide slot provided at a central part in sucha way as to penetrate the bracket along its short sides. The guide slotis formed from: a first hole portion which allows insertion of an endportion of the module 64 where the knobs of the fixing screws 46described above are exposed; and a second hole portion 54 b whichcommunicates with the substantially rectangular first hole portion andincludes guide walls.

As shown in FIG. 16A, the second hole portion 54 b is formed from afirst recessed portion 54R1, a second recessed portion 54R2, and thethird recessed portion 54R3. The first recessed portion 54R1 is formedto correspond to a lower end portion continuous with protruding wallportions 64LG of a lower case 64L of the module 64 shown in FIG. 16B.

The second recessed portion 54R2 is formed to correspond to protrudingwall portions 54UG and 54LG of the upper case 64U and the lower case 64Lof the module 64. The protruding wall portions 64UG and 64LG of themodule 64 passing through the second recessed portion 54R2 come intoslidable contact with the periphery of the second recessed portion 54R2.

The third recessed portion 54R3 is formed to correspond to the upper endportion which is continuous with the protruding wall portions 64UG ofthe upper case 64U of the module 64 described above. The engagementpieces 54K1 and 54K2 are formed at a predetermined interval on theperiphery of the third recessed portion 54R3. Through-holes into whichthe machine screws BS6 for fixing the bracket 54 to the bracket supportmember 36 are inserted are formed at four positions around the secondhole portion 54 b.

In the above-described configuration, when a plug connector of themodule 64 is connected to the host connector 28, if the module 64 isinserted through the guide slot of the bracket 54 and the guide slot ofthe bracket support portion in the state where the grooves 64D1 and 64D2at the upper end portion of the upper case 64U of the module 64 arealigned with the engagement pieces 54K1 and 54K2 at the third recessedportion 34R3 of the bracket 54 as shown in FIG. 16B, the module 64 isguided by the guide rails 42R and 42L and held inside theabove-described module accommodation portion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16C, when the module 64 is insertedinto the guide slot of the bracket 54 and the guide slot of the bracketsupport portion in the state where the lower case 64L of the module 64is incorrectly aligned with the third recessed portion 54R3 of thebracket 54, i.e., in the state where the module 64 is placed upsidedown, the lower case 64L of the module 64 comes into contact with theengagement pieces 54K1 and 54K2 at the third recessed portion 34R3 ofthe bracket 54. Thus, the module 64 in the incorrect position isprevented from being inserted into the bracket 54.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, for example, a bracket 56may be configured such that a ratio between a width dimension Le of itsthird recessed portion 56R3 and a width dimension Ld of its firstrecessed portion 56R1 is changed to a different value from that of theexample shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, while a module 66 may be configuredsuch that a ratio between width dimensions of its upper case 66U andlower case 66L is changed likewise.

The bracket 56 includes a guide slot provided at a central part in sucha way as to penetrate the bracket along its short sides. The guide slotis formed from: a first hole portion which allows insertion of an endportion of the module 66 where the knobs of the fixing screws 46described above are exposed; and a second hole portion 56 b whichcommunicates with the substantially rectangular first hole portion andincludes guide walls.

As shown in FIG. 17A, the second hole portion 56 b is formed from thefirst recessed portion 56R1, a second recessed portion 56R2, and thethird recessed portion 56R3. The first recessed portion 56R1 has a widthdimension Ld, and is formed to correspond to a lower end portioncontinuous with protruding wall portions 66LG of the lower case 66L ofthe module 66 shown in FIG. 17B.

The second recessed portion 56R2 is formed to correspond to protrudingwall portions 66UG and 66LG of the upper case 66U and the lower case 66Lof the module 66. The protruding wall portions 66UG and 66LG of themodule 66 passing through the second recessed portion 56R2 come intoslidable contact with the periphery of the second recessed portion 56R2.

The third recessed portion 56R3 is formed to correspond to an upper endportion which is continuous with the protruding wall portions 66UG ofthe upper case 66U of the module 66 described above.

Through-holes into which the machine screws BS6 for fixing the bracket56 to a bracket support member are inserted are formed at four positionsaround the second hole portion 56 b.

In the above-described configuration, when a plug connector of themodule 66 is connected to the host connector 28, if the module 66 isinserted through the guide slot of the bracket 56 and the guide slot ofthe bracket support portion in the state where the upper end portion ofthe upper case 66U of the module 66 is aligned with the third recessedportion 56R3 of the bracket 56 as shown in FIG. 17B, the module 66 isguided by the guide rails 42R and 42L and held inside theabove-described module accommodation portion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17C, when the module 66 is insertedinto the guide slot of the bracket 56 and the guide slot of the bracketsupport portion in the state where the lower case 66L of the module 66is incorrectly aligned with the third recessed portion 56R3 of thebracket 56, i.e., in the state where the module 66 is placed upsidedown, the end surface of the upper case 66U comes into contact with theperiphery of the first recessed portion 56R1 since the width dimensionLc of the upper case 66U of the module 66 is larger than the widthdimension Ld of the first recessed portion 56R1 of the bracket 56. Thus,the module 66 in the incorrect position is prevented from being insertedinto the bracket 56.

The configuration to avoid insertion of the incorrectly oriented moduleinto the bracket is not limited only to the above-described examples.For instance, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, it is also possible toadopt a configuration in which engagement pieces 58K1 and 58K2 areformed on the periphery of a third recessed portion 58R3 of a bracket58, and grooves 68D1 and 68D2 as well as corner portions 68K1 and 68K2corresponding to the engagement pieces 58K1 and 58K2 are formed at anupper end portion of an upper case 68U of a module 68.

The bracket 58 includes a guide slot provided at a central part in sucha way as to penetrate the bracket along its short sides. The guide slotis formed from: a first hole portion which allows insertion of an endportion of the module 68 where the knobs of the fixing screws 46described above are exposed; and a second hole portion 58 b whichcommunicates with the substantially rectangular first hole portion andincludes guide walls.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the second hole portion 58 b is formed from afirst recessed portion 58R1, a second recessed portion 58R2, and thethird recessed portion 58R3. The first recessed portion 58R1 is formedto correspond to a lower end portion continuous with protruding wallportions 68LG of a lower case 68L of the module 68 described above. Thesecond recessed portion 58R2 is formed to correspond to protruding wallportions 68UG and 68LG of the upper case 68U and the lower case 68L ofthe module 68. The protruding wall portions 68UG and 68LG of the module68 passing through the second recessed portion 58R2 come into slidablecontact with the periphery of the second recessed portion 58R2.

The third recessed portion 58R3 is formed to correspond to the upper endportion which is continuous with the protruding wall portions 68UG ofthe upper case 68U of the module 68 described above. In addition, theengagement pieces 58K1 and 58K2 which correspond to grooves 68D1 and64D2 of the upper case 68U are formed on the periphery of the thirdrecessed portion 58R3.

Through-holes into which the machine screws BS6 for fixing the bracket58 to a bracket support member are inserted are formed at four positionsaround the second hole portion 58 b. The bracket support member includesa guide slot inside, which corresponds to the second hole portion 58 bof the bracket 58.

In the above-described configuration, when a plug connector of themodule 68 is connected to the host connector 28, if the module 68 isinserted through the guide slot of the bracket 58 and the guide slot ofthe bracket support portion in the state where the upper end portion ofthe upper case 68U of the module 68 is aligned with the third recessedportion 58R3 of the bracket 58 as shown in FIG. 18B, the module 68 isguided by the guide rails 42R and 42L and held inside theabove-described module accommodation portion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18C, when the module 68 is insertedinto the guide slot of the bracket 58 and the guide slot of the bracketsupport portion in the state where the lower case 68L of the module 68is incorrectly aligned with the third recessed portion 58R3 of thebracket 58, i.e., in the state where the module 68 is placed upsidedown, the corner portions 68K1 and 68K2 of the upper case 68U of themodule 68 come into contact with the periphery of the first recessedportion 58R1 of the bracket 58, whereby two ends of the lower case 68Lof the module 68 come into contact with the engagement pieces 58K1 and58K2 of the bracket 58. Thus, the module 68 in the incorrect position isprevented from being inserted into the bracket 58.

FIGS. 19A and 19B each shows a receptacle assembly according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle assembly includes thebracket 24 which guides the module 14. Instead, in the example shown inFIG. 19A, the receptacle assembly includes: the bracket 54 shown in FIG.16A which guides the module 64; and a bracket support member 55 whichsupports the bracket 54. Note that the constituents in FIGS. 19A and 19Bwhich are the same as those in the example shown in FIG. 2 are denotedby the same reference numerals and the overlapping description thereofwill be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the receptacle assembly includes, as itsmain components: the bracket 54 which guides the module 64 when themodule 64 is attached or detached; the bracket support member 55 whichsupports the bracket 54; the pair of guide rail members 22R and 22Lconstituting the accommodation portion which detachably receives themodule 64 through the bracket 54 and the bracket support member 55; theheat sink unit including the heat sink body 16 which dissipates the heatgenerated from the module 64; the host connector which electricallyconnects the contact pads of the plug connector of the attached module64 and the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board 12; and theconnector cover 20 which covers the host connector.

In the above-described configuration, when the heat sink unit isattached to the guide rail member 22R and the guide rail member 22L, theposition of the slot of the connector cover 20 is set to a positioncloser to the mounting surface of the printed wiring board 12 as shownin FIG. 3. Moreover, since no fins are provided on the flat uppersurface of the heat sink body 16, the height H from the mounting surfaceof the printed wiring board 12 to the flat upper surface of the heatsink body 16 is set to a relatively small value.

Moreover, when the plug connector of the module 64 is connected to thehost connector, if the module 64 is inserted through the guide slot ofthe bracket 54 and the guide slot of the bracket support portion 36 inthe state where the grooves 64D1 and 64D2 at the upper end portion ofthe upper case 64U of the module 64 are aligned with the engagementpieces 54K1 and 54K2 at the third recessed portion 34R3 of the bracket54 as shown in FIG. 16B, the module 64 is guided by the guide rails 22Rand 22L and held inside the above-described module accommodationportion.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16C, when the module 64 is insertedinto the guide slot of the bracket 54 and the guide slot of the bracketsupport portion 55 in the state where the lower case 64L of the module64 is incorrectly aligned with the third recessed portion 34R3 of thebracket 54, i.e., in the state where the module 64 is placed upsidedown, the lower case 64L of the module 64 comes into contact with theengagement pieces 54K1 and 54K2 at the third recessed portion 54R3 ofthe bracket 54. Thus, the module 64 in the incorrect position isprevented from being inserted into the bracket 54.

FIGS. 20 and 21 each shows another example of a connector cover thatcovers a host connector used in the third embodiment of the receptacleassembly shown in FIG. 11 together with a printed wiring board.

The receptacle assembly comprises, as its main components: a receptaclecage which is provided to a printed wiring board 37 and detachablyaccommodates an optical module; a host connector 38 to be accommodatedby a receptacle connector accommodation portion of the receptacle cage(see FIG. 24); and an upper cover 40 and a lower cover 41 constitutingthe connector cover provided with a connector accommodation portionwhich accommodates the host connector 38 to cover the host connector 38.

Because the structure of the above-described receptacle cage is the sameas the structure of the receptacle cage shown in FIG. 11, itsexplanation will be omitted.

The printed wiring board 37 has an opening 37A provided at a centralpart thereof. The opening 37A is formed and surrounded by cage supportportions 37 a and 37 c opposed to each other, and a connector supportportion 37 b connecting end portions of the cage support portions 37 aand 37 c. Each of the cage support portions 37 a and 37 c extends in thedirections of attachment and detachment of a module, that is, extendsalong an X-coordinate axis shown in FIG. 20. Because the cage supportportions 37 a and 37 c to support a flange portion of the receptaclecage have the same structure each other, the cage support portion 37 awill be described below while omitting the description of the cagesupport portion 37 c.

The cage support portion 37 a has a plurality of holes 37H3 provided atpredetermined positions, into which machine screws to be described laterfor fixing the flange portion of the receptacle cage to the printedwiring board 37 are inserted. Hereby, each flange portion of thereceptacle cage is fixed to the cage support portion 37 a by insertingthe machine screws through the holes 37H3 and fastening them with nuts.

The connector support portion 37 b orthogonal to the cage supportportions 37 a and 37 c is configured to support the upper cover 40 andthe lower cover 41 as shown in FIG. 22 and the host connector 38 shownin FIG. 24. The host connector 38 is fixed to the periphery of theconnector support portion 37 b that forms a part of the opening 37A. Theconnector support portion 37 b has a pair of holes 37H1, provided ateither sides of the host connector 38, into which the machine screws forfixing the upper cover 40 and the lower cover 41 to the printed wiringboard 37 are inserted. Further, at positions adjacent to the pair ofholes 37H1, protrusions 41P for positioning the lower cover 41 to bedescribed later which are to be fitted with holes 37H2 are formed. Thediameter of each of the holes 37H2 is set to be smaller than thediameter of each of the holes 37H1.

The host connector 38 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, a contactterminal group (not shown) which detachably comes into contact with theconnecting end portion of the module. The contact terminal group isconfigured to electrically connect the connecting end portion of themodule to a group of electrodes connected to a conductive pattern of theprinted wiring board 37. A ground line contact pad 37Ga is formed on theperiphery of the host connector 38 at a surface 37FS of the connectorsupport portion 37 b and an inner peripheral surface forming a part ofthe opening 37A. The ground line contact pad 37Ga is electricallyconnected to a ground line of the printed wiring board 37. In addition,a ground line contact pad 37Gb which is continuous with the ground linecontact pad 37Ga is also formed on the periphery of the host connector38 at a back side 37BS of the connector support portion 37 b as shown inFIG. 25. The upper part and lower part of the host connector 38 are eachcovered by the connector cover comprising the upper cover 40 and thelower cover 41.

The upper cover 40 is made of metal material, for example. As shown inFIGS. 22 and 23, the upper cover 40 comprises a connector accommodationportion 40A and fixation portions 40B each formed integrally on one endof the side walls forming the connector accommodation portion 40A. Eachof the fixation portions 40B having a hole 40 b is fixed to theabove-described surface 37FS of the connector support portion 37 b ofthe printed wiring board 37.

The upper cover 40 is configured to accommodate the host connector 38inside and to cover the upper part of the host connector 38 whileretaining given clearances. The connector accommodation portion 40A isformed and surrounded by a pair of side walls, a connecting wall havinga slot 40SL that allows passage of the connecting end portion of themodule and connecting the other end portions of the pair of side walls,and an upper wall which is continuous with the pair of side walls andthe connecting wall and which forms the upper part of the upper cover40. The slot 40SL in the connector accommodation portion 40A is formedso as to face the above-described host connector 38. An annular EMIgasket EG1 serving as a first EMI gasket is cemented to the periphery ofouter peripheral edges of the slot 40SL. In addition, an EMI gasket EG3serving as a third EMI gasket is cemented on an edge formed between thepair of the fixation portions 40B and portions directly under thefixation portions 40B continuous with the side walls at the connectoraccommodation portion 40A shown in FIG. 23. The EMI gasket EG1 is madeof, for example, synthetic rubber material, and the EMI gasket EG3 andan EMI gasket EG4 serving as a fourth EMI gasket to be described laterare made of, for example, conductive rubber material or conductive resinmaterial. The EMI gasket EG3 is pressed to the above-described groundline contact pad 37Ga when the fixation portions 40B of the upper cover40 are fixed on the surface 37FS of the connector support portion 37 b.An inclined portion 40SA is formed at a position of each of the sidewalls of the upper cover 40 which is apart from the connector supportportion 37 b of the printed wiring board 37. The inclined portion 40SAis aligned and engaged with a corresponding inclined portion 41SApositioned at the lower cover 41 to be described later.

The lower cover 41 is made of metal material, for example. As shown inFIG. 22, the lower cover 41 comprises a connector accommodation portion41A and fixation portions 41B each formed integrally on one end of theside walls forming the connector accommodation portion 41A. Each of thefixation portions 41B having a hole 41 b is, as shown in FIG. 21, fixedto the above-described back side 37BS of the connector support portion37 b of the printed wiring board 37. Each of the fixation portions 41Bhas the hole 41 b at a position corresponding to the hole 40 b of eachof the fixation portions 40B of the upper cover 40. The common machinescrews described above are inserted into the hole 40 b and the hole 41 bthrough the hole 37H1 of the printed wiring board 37 and are fastenedwith the nuts. Hereby, the fixation portions 40B of the upper cover 40and fixation portions 41B of the lower cover 41 are fixed to the printedwiring board 37. At positions adjacent to the holes 41 b, theprotrusions 41P for positioning are formed.

The lower cover 41 is configured to accommodate the host connector 38inside and to cover the lower part of the host connector 38 whileretaining given clearances. The connector accommodation portion 41A isformed and surrounded by a pair of side walls, a connecting wallconnecting the other end portions of the pair of side walls, and a lowerwall which is continuous with the pair of side walls and the connectingwall and which forms the lower surface of the lower cover 41. The EMIgasket EG4 is cemented to the upper end portion of the connecting walland the upper end portion of the side walls connected to both ends ofthe upper end portion of the connecting wall. The EMI gasket EG4 ispressed to the above-described ground line contact pad 37Gb when thefixation portions 41B of the lower cover 41 are fixed on the back side37BS of the connector support portion 37 b.

Therefore, the upper cover 40 and the lower cover 41 which serve as theconnector cover are, when fixed to the printed wiring board 37,configured to cover the entire host connector 38 in a state where theprinted wiring board 37 is cooperatively sandwiched between the uppercover 40 and the lower cover 41.

Hereby, because when the connecting end portion of the module isconnected to the host connector 38, an end surface of the module comesinto contact with the EMI gasket EG1 on the periphery of the slot 40SLof the upper cover 40, and the EMI gasket EG3 and the EMI gasket EG4come into contact with the ground line contact pad 37Ga and the groundline contact pad 37Gb, respectively, whereby noise generated in the hostconnector 38 is confined to the inside of the connector accommodationportions 40A and 41A. In addition, static electricity and the likegenerated from the connector cover is brought in the ground line of theprinted wiring board 37 through the connector cover.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A receptacle assembly comprising: a guide memberprovided on the periphery of an opening of a wiring board which has theopening, and configured to form a module accommodation portion todetachably accommodate a module comprising a module board, andconfigured to guide the module; a connector unit provided on the wiringboard at a position adjacent to the module accommodation portion, andconfigured to electrically connect the module board of the module to thewiring board; a first EMI gasket sealing a gap between a lower endportion of a connector cover covering the connector unit and the wiringboard; and a second EMI gasket sealing a gap between a connecting endportion of the module and the periphery of an opening of the connectorunit when the module is placed to the module accommodation portionthrough the opening of the connector unit, wherein when the module isaccommodated by the module accommodation portion, a position of a lowerend portion of the module is positioned at a position lower than aposition of the wiring board through an opening of the wiring board,wherein the connector cover covering the connector unit is electricallyconnected to a ground line of the wiring board through a third EMIgasket and a fourth EMI gasket which are conductive and which areprovided between the connector cover and a ground line contact padformed on a surface of the wiring board.
 2. The receptacle assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the third EMI gasket is pressed to a firstground line contact pad which is electrically connected to the groundline of the wiring board and the fourth EMI gasket is pressed to asecond ground line contact pad which is electrically connected to theground line of the wiring board.
 3. The receptacle assembly according toclaim 2, wherein the first ground line contact pad is formed on theperiphery of the connector unit at a surface of a connector supportportion of the wiring board and an inner peripheral surface forming apart of the opening of the wiring board.
 4. The receptacle assemblyaccording to claim 2, wherein the second ground line contact pad isformed on the periphery of the connector unit at a back side of aconnector support portion of the wiring board.